While the origin of hepcidin-25 and hepcidin mRNA in hepatocytes remains elusive, expression of hepcidin mRNA in surgical specimens of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was lower than in non-tumorous liver tissue and was not correlated with the serum hepcidin-25 level, as was also found in the current study of RCC [11]. This evidence concerns the gene HAMP and hepatocellular carcinoma.